Head bowed, tears streaming.
Ever seen a premier‑league star break down?
Staying cool is part of the job, yet fans and teammates seem to demand it even more.
When Everton forward Thierno Barry uploaded a raw clip of his private training breakdown last month, the football world buzzed about emotion in a sport that often shuns vulnerability.
BBC Newsbeat sat down with the Frenchman at the club’s training ground to probe his motives and future plans.
“I was terrified to share it,” he admits.
“Then I thought, ‘No, I need to be real,’” Barry tells the camera, referencing his recent YouTube post.
“Last season I showed a version of myself that wasn’t authentic, and people need to see the real me,” he says.
The 23‑year‑old appears frustrated, visibly upset by his own performance.
He walks out of the session, tears spilling, while teammates rally around him.
The following day he reflects on the relief that came with that release.
“Sometimes it feels good to just lose it,” he confides to the lens.
Barry says he held the footage for three weeks before deciding to publish it.
“It’s the first time I’ve cried in front of my mates; they always see me as tough,” he reveals.
“I’m glad I could share that moment. They know I love the club and I want to perform well,” he adds.
For my money, a £27 million move from Villarreal at 22 set expectations sky‑high for the Lyon‑born striker.
Everton later reshared the vlog clip on their official feed, captioning it “emotional resilience.”
Supportive comments poured in, urging him to keep his head up.
He acknowledges the boost he’s received from fans and the club alike.
“The people around me helped a lot because, like I said, I’m really hard on myself and they try to keep me positive,” he notes.
Any external criticism can’t match his own inner voice.
“I’m always tougher on myself; I just need to stay calmer,” he admits.
“People see a crying guy, but I want to prove I’m strong and unafraid to show it,” he says.
That’s why he finally posted the video.
He also talks about the early challenges of settling into a new club and city, calling it “really difficult.”
“It’s tough because the Premier League is the toughest league in the world. New league, new language,” he explains.
He logged 41 appearances last season, netting just eight goals.
This campaign he’s already found the net six times.
“Fans may say I waste chances, but I also create many,” he defends himself.
He knows the price of missed opportunities.
“Supporters expect goals; imagine not scoring for three months like I did last season—it’s hard,” he reflects.
He isn’t ready to relax fully yet.
After netting against Hull last weekend, he posted on Instagram that he’s “still learning.”
“This season feels easier because I get more minutes on the pitch,” he says.
“When I miss a chance, seven minutes later another opens up. That pressure is real,” he adds.
“When I strike the ball, time seems to freeze in my head,” he describes.
Barry even brings back the dab and hip‑swing celebrations, adding flair to his games.
Entering his second year, the 6ft 5in forward says he intends to stay focused.
Does he see a call‑up to Les Bleus soon?
“I don’t think about it much; it feels far away,” he admits.
“I just do my job—if a call comes, it will,” he concludes.
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or catch the replay here.